DBOFS 77

Chapter 77

“Dimi, no—!”

The Marquis of Layerga screamed as if coughing up blood, but Dimyuard had already long been snatched away by the flying monster Sebric was riding.

Sebric had joined the kidnapping precisely because he could summon and control the flying magical beast.

“Anyway, unless it’s the Tower Master, using ancient magic would be impossible.”

With Godwin’s blood and the magical stones prepared by the Tower Master, they were able to disrupt part of the ancient dark magic of Donggwan and successfully abduct Dimyuard Layerga.

“Tch, you should’ve at least used the power of the former duke.”

Princess Irene, determined to protect her child, seemed capable of completely destroying her natal home, so her father had sent him outside in advance, using one of Godwin’s retainers.

“That’s why it won’t work.”

If they had a trump card, they should have used it—even if it was Harris Godwin.

However, Princess Irene probably only recognized Harris Godwin as someone with extraordinary abilities who might target Dimyuard, not as a pawn.

Her guilt toward her father, her wariness of her nephew, and her overreliance on Donggwan’s ancient dark magic became her undoing.

Of course, by now, Princess Irene—who could have slaughtered everyone—would have realized this fact…

“But it’s already too late.”

Dimyuard Layerga was already atop the flying beast controlled by Sebric.

No matter how strong Godwin Castle’s defenses were, flight through the sky couldn’t be stopped.

Of course, it wasn’t without drawbacks.

“Attack!”

Having kidnapped Dimyuard, they couldn’t hide their identities forever.

Whack—!

The invisibility magic protecting them was broken by the projectile magic weapon thrown by Lenor.

“Bind their feet! Save Dimyuard…!”

Layerga’s guards, led by Lenor, attacked the flying monsters above.

But Sebric was faster.

“Meteor.”

The second magical stone given by Tower Master Elysious glittered in Sebric’s hand.

Just like the first stone, it shattered with a crack, and meteors began to fall one by one from the sky.

“Ahhh—!”

“No, no…!”

“Protect the Marquis!”

Boom!

Amidst the raining meteors, Layerga’s guards had no choice but to abandon Dimyuard and protect Lenor.

For them, the heir, Lenor, was more important than the second prince, Dimyuard.

“Dimyuard—!”

Lenor screamed, but the situation was already lost.

No matter how much power they had, it was nearly impossible to stop an attack raining from the sky and escape through the air.

“…It’s done.”

The plan had been accomplished.

Sebric, who had been tense knowing the meteor’s short casting time, let out a relieved sigh.

Though there were some sacrifices, securing Dimyuard Layerga alone was enough, even if everyone else died.

“Mm, mm!”

Behind Sebric, satisfied, his subordinates were gagging Dimyuard and covering his eyes as he struggled.

Everything seemed perfect, and at that moment…

“…Those madmen, in pairs!”

It was Jade who intervened, witnessing the scene.

‘Why is he there?!’

Jade’s slightly dazed mind, from staying up all night, was jolted as if struck at the back of the head.

Dimyuard wasn’t just floating in the sky—he was being kidnapped!

‘Are they really doing this kind of madness in broad daylight?’

After discovering Princess Irene’s true intentions, Jade was incredulous.

Dimyuard’s abilities could be roughly guessed, but who were these madmen unafraid to turn Layerga into an enemy?

‘The royal family? The Tower??’

Jade wondered which, but it had to be a collaboration between the two!

“Those madmen, in pairs!”

Jade’s body reacted before his mind could process.

He ran straight and threw himself toward Dimyuard, caught by the flying monster beyond the terrace.

“…!”

Camillo, who had quietly followed behind Jade, marveled.

“Truly, Lord Jade! You even aim to secure Layerga’s second prince! The prince’s abilities are indeed…!”

But falling Jade didn’t hear Camillo’s voice, screaming internally.

‘Am I crazy?!’

I thought I had to save him, but not this seriously?!

‘Whatever happens, don’t leave Donggwan. Stay locked in my residence no matter what.’

Harris’ repeated warnings before entering the dungeon came to mind.

‘He said some protective barrier magic was in place…!’

But Jade had been too distracted to hear properly!

Unfortunately, it was already too late to regret it.

He had made eye contact with the summoner of the flying beast.

“…Y-you are!”

As his opponent hesitated, falling through the air, Jade drew his gun at the speed of light and fired.

Bang—!!

Inside the dungeon.

“Phew…”

Harris irritably snapped the neck of the great beast.

[Kweeeaaah—!]

A mournful death cry.

Harris’ subordinate limbs, separated from Jade and terrified by Harris’ sudden surge of power, quickly lowered their gaze and took care of the other beasts.

[Kweik— Kehek!]

The successive shrieks gradually subsided, and Harris dispelled the translucent vision before him.

‘Is it over?’

Looking at the crumbling dungeon, Harris frowned.

He remembered Layerga’s second brat, Dimyuard.

‘It must be because of that brat.’

Before coming to the dungeon, Harris realized while talking with Jade that Princess Irene had left Layerga and fled to Godwin to save Dimyuard.

‘It’s because of the protective magic of his nature.’

Though not widely known, the wife of the first Godwin had been a powerful sorceress.

For various reasons, concerned for her family’s safety, she cast ancient protective magic on their residence, which had been fading, drawn with her own blood.

As expected from blood magic, it was dark magic.

Thanks to the ancient beast “Void,” dark magic was considered the most evil and ominous in the continent.

Though accepted by the Tower of Magic, it didn’t improve public perception, so it became a secret passed down only to Godwin’s direct descendants.

‘Magic that protects Godwin’s direct bloodline unconditionally.’

Direct lineage was determined by the family heirloom of the Godwin dukedom. Only direct descendants of the heirloom’s owner were affected.

Thus, with Norman Godwin unable to inherit the heirloom, Princess Irene’s children, Lenor and Dimyuard, were also protected.

Princess Irene targeted him, using the excuse of succession to intrude on Godwin.

‘Jade wouldn’t have known.’

The reason for visiting didn’t matter; the succession excuse was simply the most rational way to keep Layerga’s second prince, Dimyuard, in Godwin’s residence as long as possible.

‘And she likely didn’t care at all about the damage that would result.’

Harris’ gaze turned cold.

He held no grudge against Princess Irene. She wouldn’t have intervened for the sake of the nephew of the brother who betrayed him.

He understood.

So the other party would also understand why he wouldn’t intervene.

‘…Though it seems Jade didn’t understand.’

Jade truly wanted to help Princess Irene and Layerga’s second prince.

“Jade, Jade…”

My kind and innocent Jade.

Within the collapsing dungeon, Harris murmured the name lazily.

It couldn’t be helped. Had he not been so gentle and pure, Jade wouldn’t have come to him.

So Harris understood.

He knew Jade genuinely believed he would help Princess Irene and Layerga’s pawns.

‘That can’t be true.’

Harris’ red lips curved in amusement at the foolish misconception.

Being recognized as the heir? A celebratory banquet? Harris had no special expectations.

The banquet could happen or not, and being recognized as heir was naturally his right.

But that didn’t mean it could be ruined.

Thinking of Jade throwing all his effort to support him and create a perfect heir’s celebration made it even more important.

‘…It must have been his first banquet.’

The bright eyes that had gleamed at the thought of the celebration were still vivid.

Even panicking at Princess Irene’s arrival and freezing during the subsequent attack.

‘I can’t let that slide.’

He didn’t care about the insult to himself—Princess Irene had the right to harbor resentment.

But Jade was different.

It didn’t matter to him that Jade hadn’t truly intended to take the succession by force.

Thus, Harris added to the protective magic of Donggwan.

[Protect Godwin’s bloodline.]

-And added a new condition:

[But prioritize protecting the residence of the bloodline’s heir.]

For Harris, demigod of “Void,” the source of dark magic, this was easy.

Afterward, Harris urged Jade to stay in his residence.

Even before entering the dungeon, he could feel Jade’s presence from the “territory” designated as his residence.

‘It’s best if something happens while I’m gone…’

Harris had known from the start.

The retainer who begged the former duke to deal with this dungeon was loyal to Princess Irene, and the dungeon had already erupted long before the time he mentioned.

Yet she requested it now, deliberately to drive him away by making him cautious.

He knowingly allowed it.

That way, even if Jade asked for help, he would be occupied solving the freshly erupted dungeon and couldn’t help, and Jade would accept it without disappointment.

Having expected this, Harris destroyed the B-rank dungeon alone and, upon checking his “territory,” froze.

“…Jade?”